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Madeleine Baran
St. Paul, Minn.

St. Paul man not guilty by mental illness in wife's death

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A 67-year-old St. Paul man has been found not guilty by reason of mental illness in the death of his wife.

Gerald Wassenaar has remained hospitalized since his wife, 67-year-old Jean Andrine Wassenaar, was found dead in the couple's home on Nov. 2.

The Ramsey County Attorney's Office said Thursday that it has asked that Wassenaar be considered mentally ill and dangerous, and be placed under civil commitment to a secure psychiatric facility.

According to the criminal complaint, Gerald Wassenaar was found in Lake Elmo sitting in his stalled car on the evening of Nov. 2. A Washington County sheriff's deputy reported Wassenaar was confused and drove him home. When they arrived, Wassenaar refused to go inside the house, at first saying that his wife was sleeping.

Later that night, a neighbor called police, who found Wassenaar outside his home. His wife's body was inside.

The Ramsey County medical examiner said Jean Wassenaar's death was a homicide and that she suffered traumatic injuries to her scalp and internal neck region.

Wassenaar was charged with unintentional second-degree murder on Nov. 5.